1. THEIS RESEARCH SEMINAR Genetic adaptation of aspen populations to spring risk environments: a novel remote sensing approach Haitao Li Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Feb 16 th, 2010

2. OUTLINE Background Background o Phenology & budbreak o Adaptation & genotype o Land surface phenology Methodology Methodology o Provenance trial o Remote sensing Results Results o Maps & graphs Discussion Discussion

3. Objective INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION Geographic patterns of genetic variation in the spring phenology of aspen INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION Adaptation of populations to climatic risk environments IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION Seed transfer EXPLORATIONEXPLORATION New method—remote sensing INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION Geographic patterns of genetic variation in the spring phenology of aspen INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION Adaptation of populations to climatic risk environments IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION Seed transfer EXPLORATIONEXPLORATION New method—remote sensing

4. PHENOLOGYPHENOLOGY recurring biological phases of species, biotic and abiotic causes, and the interrelation of phases within or among species ADAPTATIONADAPTATION survival adaptation capacity adaptation APPLICATIONAPPLICATION Forest management, seed transfer, climate modelling, … PHENOLOGYPHENOLOGY recurring biological phases of species, biotic and abiotic causes, and the interrelation of phases within or among species ADAPTATIONADAPTATION survival adaptation capacity adaptation APPLICATIONAPPLICATION Forest management, seed transfer, climate modelling, … Introduction

5. Temperature Threshold Time BUDBREAKBUDBREAK Spring phenology Adaptive trait Environmental contral HEATSUMHEATSUM the thermal time, it is the accumulation of degree-days leading to a phenological event Degree-day :The average daily temperature above a certain threshold (0°C) BUDBREAKBUDBREAK Spring phenology Adaptive trait Environmental contral HEATSUMHEATSUM the thermal time, it is the accumulation of degree-days leading to a phenological event Degree-day :The average daily temperature above a certain threshold (0°C) Introduction Heatsum

6. LAND SURFACE PHENOLOGYLAND SURFACE PHENOLOGY Forest canopy spectral reflectivity MODISMODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) a key instrument aboard on both Terra and Aqua satellites lunched by NASA LAND SURFACE PHENOLOGYLAND SURFACE PHENOLOGY Forest canopy spectral reflectivity MODISMODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) a key instrument aboard on both Terra and Aqua satellites lunched by NASA Introduction Resolution Spatial250-1000 m Spectral0.62-14.38 µm temporal1-2 days

7. NDVINDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index EVIEVI Enhanced Vegetation Index NDVINDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index EVIEVI Enhanced Vegetation Index Introduction Source Data from NASA: http://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sites/ScaleHiveSite.php?SiteID=MD001

8. Workflow of thesis

9. Field observation PROVENANCE TRIALPROVENANCE TRIAL 1998 43 open pollinated bulked seed lots Randomized complete block design PROVENANCE TRIALPROVENANCE TRIAL 1998 43 open pollinated bulked seed lots Randomized complete block design

10. Location of provenance trial

11. Research area and location of provenances o 43 provenances cover western Canada and Minnesota in US o 1126 trees in command garden o observation from May 4 th to June 2 nd 2009

12. Field observation 7-level bud development scale7-level bud development scale 0, dormant 1, buds swelling 2, buds breaking 3, extend to 1cm 4, extend to 2cm 5, extend to 3cm 6, fully extended 7-level bud development scale7-level bud development scale 0, dormant 1, buds swelling 2, buds breaking 3, extend to 1cm 4, extend to 2cm 5, extend to 3cm 6, fully extended 120130140 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Index of Bud-break Days 1 2 3 4 5 6

13. Results of Field Observation Symbols represent different ecological regions:  BC taiga plains, AB northern boreal plains,  AB lower rocky mountain foothills,  AB central boreal plains,  SK central boreal plains,  MN boreal shield.

14. Remote sensing methods Climate data Average required heatsum Plus standard error Heatsum maps from 2001 to 2005 EVI imageries Map of green up date From 2001 to 2005 – MODIS EVI data from 2001 to 2005 – spatial resolution 500 meter – 16 days interval Greenup date

15. Mean temperature in the 130 th day 2001 20022003 Average for five years20052004

16. The distribution of Greenup date

18. Heatsum requirements from provenance trial and remote sensing data Aspen Parklands North High Elev

19. Validation Provenance trialsProvenance trials Similar spatial pattern for required heatsum Climate dataClimate data Storm-track from Rocky mountain to central Alberta

20. Correlation of heatsum with long-term climate conditions

21. PCA: PC1 & PC2 MAT MWMT AHM SHM MCMT EXT_Cold PAS MCMT SHM PCA (Red is high value and green is low) MCMT: mean coldest month temperature SHM: summer heat/moisture index

22. PCA: PC3 PAS MWMT AHM EXT_Cold MCMT SHM MWMT PCA (Red is high value and green is low) AHM: annual heat/moisture index MCMT: mean coldest month temperature MWMT: mean warmest month temperature PAS: precipitation as snow

23. Correlation of heatsum with long-term climate conditions Precipitation and dryness in winter and early spring affect the timing of budbreak

24. Interpretation Survival adaptation Survival adaptationvs. capacity adaptation capacity adaptation o North & high elevation short growing season break early o Dry areas aspen parklands and other place breaking bud in late spring too dry to grow

25. Graphed by Tim Gylander Growth traits: Height and DBH

26. Mapped by Pei-yu Chen Growth traits: Productivity

27. Application Later budbreak Relatively early budbreak X

28. What’s new Environmental control Budbreak delayed by doughtiness and frost damage Technology Detecting genotype by remote sensing

29. Acknowledgement Andreas Hamann, Xianli Wang, Elisabeth Beubia, Pei-yu Chen, Nicholas Coops, Arthuro Sanche NSERC, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, Ainsworth Engineered Canada LP, Daishowa- Marubeni International Ltd., Western Boreal Aspen Corporation, Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.